Golden Threads - Thread Slivers Part 12

All three princes frowned at this and the marshal of their private guard placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Captain Dohma, you are lucky we are alone. We shall overlook this comment. You have two marks to bring Duke before us."

Frowning, Dohma bowed and left by the main doors. Oh this will not go well. The royal foyer was filled with n.o.bles, who flocked back into the throne room as he left. Dohma walked past the personal guards and sent one of his own guards, stationed outside the main palace doors, running ahead with orders to have a full detachment a.s.semble at the palace. He ordered a second detachment to prepare for Duke's very-likely objection to whatever the Princes were about to tell him, to be stationed near the palace doors and ready for possible trouble. With any luck this can be kept civil.

Duke's own palatial home was only minutes from the Royal Palace. In only a half mark he was approaching the gates of Duke's residence with his detachment of fifty guards. Inside the gates he saw not less than a hundred warriors who were broken into groups and talking. Servants were just removing some tables that had been about the courtyard. d.a.m.n, that is not thirty Daggers, that is a full platoon. It's too late to withdraw; I really hope he is in a talking mood. Something about him makes me trust him more than my own princes, even though I have only met him once. Dohma stepped right up, stopping just in front of the eight guards at the main gate. "By order of the Princes, I must speak with His Excellency Duke at once."

The guards looked coolly at the fifty guardsmen he brought. One of them said in a most casual tone, "I'll ask if he is in." Dohma watched the guard walk slowly through the crowd of Daggers, taking his time. The Daggers all turned to examine his detachment. Sweat began to acc.u.mulate on his brow, and after a moment, the Daggers turned back to their conversations. Dohma lost track of the gate guard when a Dagger ran past him to a squad close to the gate.

Dohma concentrated to hear what was being said; something inside told him it was important. He had always had these little feelings, and long ago learned to trust them. The conversation was faint but not beyond his exceptional hearing, which he had trained himself to focus so he could follow conversations in a crowded hall at a distance.

"Commander, Ticca's patron has dispatched two communications, one to a merchant house requesting the diversion of any merchant s.h.i.+p to Breorchy to leave tomorrow; the other to the Guild, naming Breorchy as a likely source of information. She has also hired Nigan and Risy as guards. We spotted three horses being made ready for travel now. One is Ticca's, the others belong to Nigan and Risy. Bravo reports the watchers have also intercepted the communications."

"d.a.m.n it! That girl moves as fast as her uncle. I'd like to know what she has learned. This is all likely a diversion and she plans on intercepting the s.h.i.+p up river and taking her patron off the boat to proceed overland to their true objective." The commander looked directly at the Dagger who had reported in. "Three, move fast." At that the Dagger spun and ran out and down the street. The commander then gave an odd look at a Dagger wearing a turban standing with another group who had also been watching the exchange. The turbaned Dagger went back to talking with his own squad. The commander looked at the rest of his squad standing around him. "Two, pheasant shoot. One, ridge run with me." The Dagger squad ran out of the gate and also headed towards town, but down the street the commander and a strike team turned west while the rest of the team continued on the main road until out of sight.

A surprisingly short time later a page came running out. "Captain Dohma, you are invited in." The emphasis on 'you' made it obvious he was to leave his detachment outside. Please Lord, let him be in a good mood today.

He signaled his men to stay put and followed the page through the courtyard to an entry foyer as large as the throne room, with very expensive marbles and tasteful pictures on display. Duke certainly has good taste. This is far superior to the over-the-top decorations of the royal palace. Once through the foyer, a large, elegantly decorated connecting hall led into a formal dining room. As he stepped into the room he stopped, awestruck at the size of the table before him. It stood level with his neck. Looking down the table and feeling like a small child about to address his unhappy father, Captain Dohma saw the large wolf at the far end chewing on what looked (and smelled) like a man-sized pile of bacon. Duke sat in a throne that put every other throne he had seen to shame in its simple design, elegance and scale. He really knows how to make an impression. And I have the feeling he is not happy today. This sure won't help his mood.

Duke looked at him with steel in his eyes. "Captain Dohma, I was expecting you much earlier today. I am afraid you have missed lunch. As to the reminder you are here to deliver of the little Princes' request, you may tell the little princes to go suck on a hard candy. I will do as I please."

Dohma tried to speak, but his throat refused to allow air through. Coughing to clear it, he shook his head. "Excellency, I do apologize for interrupting your meal; however, the Princes request your immediate presence. I have been sent to escort you with all the honors due a lord of the realm."

Duke laughed and it sent chills down his now-sweaty back. "Oh, I bet they said that. You have a lot of nerve, Captain." Duke then stared at him for a moment, making him sweat a little more. Still, he stood his ground. "I like you, Dohma, so for your sake only I will accept this honor you bestow on me."

Thank the great Lord. "I thank you, Excellency. I a.s.sure you I am only here to escort you to the palace, with honors."

Duke wiped his mouth on a napkin the size of a small tablecloth which was being held in place on the table, near his seat, by a device of some sort. He then stood and walked calmly around the table and, glancing at his personal secretary he said, "Ladro, so that I may honor your earlier request, you may stay... just in case."

Ladro leaned backwards slightly as if he had lost his balance, his face going totally white. He swallowed a couple of times rapidly. Duke just scared him deeply with that comment. What has Duke been up to this morning? Ladro is the last person I'd expect to be scared of Duke - he has been in Duke's personal service his whole life, from page to personal secretary.

Duke walked past Dohma, heading for the exit. Dohma set aside his contemplation of Ladro's reaction and fell into step next to Duke out of his residence. In the courtyard, the Daggers stopped talking and looked at them as they came out. Duke walked casually straight to the gates, and looked back at the Daggers. "Time's a-wasting, folks. You have your orders. Echo, river walk."

Dohma's hand went to his sword hilt but the all the Daggers simply said, "Yes, sir," and went back to their conversations.

His guardsmen parted to let them walk through and formed up behind them as an honor guard. Duke walked with him back to the palace calmly, in total silence. This is totally unexpected. I thought I'd have to beg him to come.

When they reached the palace, Duke laughed, giving Dohma a knowing side glance when he saw the second detachment standing at honors just outside the palace entrance. Dohma signaled his men to stop at the palace entrance, with the other detachment, and followed Duke inside. He heard something from Duke that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. Looking over at Duke, his large eyes sparkling with some private joke. Duke didn't break stride or say a word, forcing Dohma to race ahead a little just so he could be seen as the escort. Duke nodded politely to some of the staff and dignitaries as they moved through the entrance hall into the throne room's foyer.

Once at the entrance to the throne room, however, things changed. Duke didn't bother to wait; he sprang ahead of Dohma and simply walked past the princes' personal guards, shouldering the crossed halberds and men out of his way as if they were nothing more than reeds of gra.s.s. Not bothering to wait to be announced or addressed, he thundered out as he continued across the throne room, "What do you whelps want? I'm busy."

Looking at the nearly full room of n.o.bles and dignitaries, Dohma realized it was much more full than normal. The Princes must have summoned these n.o.bles in order to make an example to them. Everyone quickly got out of Duke's way; a few, upon looking him in the eye, bowed and then exited the room in haste. Yes, that is a prudent thing to do. I wish I could do the same.

Emman motioned the lord in front of them away. "Duke, we told you to stay in your residence and to not disturb our citizens. You went out last night and even damaged parts of our city. Now we have reports that you have hired many Daggers. We will not allow this to continue. You will pay the Daggers two weeks' service and tell them to disband immediately."

Duke stopped right where the marshal started to go for his weapon, and sat down, looking at the three princes with his ears laid back. "You are confused as to the order of things. I give the orders here, not you." Dohma detected an odd tone in Duke's voice and had the feeling that Duke was still laughing at something only he understood.

All three princes laughed at that, and so did many n.o.bles still present, although the n.o.bles' laughs sounded nervous. Elur, the youngest, shook his head. "You are wrong. This is our kingdom, and you have no authority here, except what we grant you."

Duke's voice deepened, and carried a slight growl to it. "Have you whelps even read the covenant?"

I have, and Duke's right. What is going on?

Elur laughed and his brothers chuckled too. Duke's ears came up in curiosity. Elur, through his laughter, asked, "What use do we have of a dusty old relic?"

Dohma felt a shudder of surprise and Duke was surprised too. "It is the cornerstone of your family's authority here. It is the charter that grants you the t.i.tles of the Princes' Regents, which you have dropped to stylize yourselves as 'the Princes'. Your family can't forget its duties; it is part of your very bloodline."

At this all three princes laughed. "Duke, oh Duke, you are the very best. Our family wrested this kingdom from the grasp of those fools long ago. I believe it was not long after you fled to the North. Our ancestors disposed of the last remnants of the ancient empire's ridiculous hold here. It was our fleet of s.h.i.+ps that set sail from this port to create the true kingdom of the Sea Princes. We are the only authority in the kingdom now. This is no longer the Kingdom of Aelargo; it is now the Kingdom of the Sea Princes. You really should look at some modern maps."

Lord, they are traitors, from a family of usurpers. I know I have never liked them much; I swore to protect the kingdom from harm and to uphold the covenant.

Duke growled, which was enough of a warning. The marshal made a signal, and before Dohma could react, Duke moved. As Duke made to leap to the dais, however, heavy nets were thrown over him from the balconies. Twenty of the Princes' guards piled onto him, using their combined weight and the nets to pin him in place against the floor. More of the Princes' guards rushed into the room from the side doors, quickly grabbing and holding down the edges of the nets, effectively trapping the great wolf in front of the princes, who continued to laugh, joined by the remaining n.o.bles.

Dohma's heart and soul screamed at the treachery he was witnessing. What are they doing? He is a lord of the realm, how can I be party to this? Looking at everyone in the room, he didn't see a single supporter. His hand moved and seized on the hilt of his sword, which the marshal took as preparing to aid them in subduing Duke, as he warned Dohma off with a smile of thanks. Dohma looked at the personal guards; they all had smirks or open smiles at this. He instinctively read them to the core and found them as traitorous as the usurpers. The personal guard has known this all, and they are loyal to the usurpers. Then his exceptional hearing picked up very soft chuckling coming from Duke. What can possibly be funny about being trapped under twenty guards and a net?

Emman shook his head and looked at Duke. "Poor Duke, to think you remain faithful to that dead line of lost kings. We long ago finished with that. Our ancestors uncovered Damega's true blood line and struck a deal; his body in exchange for the trinket that used to sit there." Prince Emman pointed at an alcove where an ornate gold book sat. "Of course the silly n.o.bles at the time felt it best if we hid the fact that the kingdom's relics where being sold off, so they made that excellent facsimile."

Damega was heir to the throne? He has been styled a cut-throat thief and pirate. Could all I know of our history be wrong? This is too much - I must act. Looking around, he could see no way to help Duke or stop this. In his mind he heard Orahda's sound advice 'Steady, calm, wait for the right moment.' He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, swearing he would kill the usurpers if he had the chance.

Duke's voice lost all humor and he growled, "You dared to remove the archive? It was for the royal and regent lines only."

"Exactly, you silly dog, and as we had all of the regent's line buried out back, combined with the last of the dead royal line, it was no longer of any use to anyone. So why not sell it?"

"Your ancestors betrayed Damega?"

"Of course. He was getting out of hand with all that silly talk of freedom, education, and comforts for peasants; not to mention trying to establish a hidden militia outside of our family's control. Of course I find it ironic that now, centuries later, we have built the schools and provided some of the securities for peasants that he sought to do. Aelargo was not nearly as rich, and those things do cost. Even more ironic that that militia has turned into a rabble of stupid mercenaries greedy for as much coin as they can steal from rich merchants and n.o.bles."

Duke said something in a low growl. Dohma could only hear a little of it and it sounded familiar.

"Oh, you poor dog, are you having problems breathing under all that weight?"

Duke growled a little, and asked, "A last question: who traded your ancestors a body for a useless relic?"

Elur laughingly said, "Why, none other than High-Lord Shar-Lumen himself. Who else would be so stupid and powerful?"

The other two princes looked at Elur in surprise. "Brother," Emman warned, "You reveal too much."

Elur pointed at Duke. "And where will he take this knowledge?" Then, waving at everyone else, he added, "And these are our loyal subjects."

Just then a guard ran into the throne room. "The palace doors are being blocked!"

Emman stood and moved over to a window, asking in a very sarcastic tone, "Is it poor old Duke's little army of greedy mercenaries - oh, sorry, I mean 'Daggers'? I must see what this pitiful creature thinks will stop us." When he looked out, his mouth dropped open and he stared.

His two brothers stood and started toward him as the guard answered, "No Excellency, the palace wall is rising, and metal doors are rising out of the ground - right through the stonework sealing the surrounding walls!"

Several lords, and Dohma, rushed to the windows to confirm that the palace walls had indeed risen at least fifteen feet, and metal plates had broken through the paving stones, rising up out of the ground, fitting perfectly in the grooves into which the current gate doors had been mounted. As they watched, the current gate doors and stonework brackets were crushed, causing debris to fall around the now-sealed entrances. More metal plates, which had spikes topped with large b.a.l.l.s of steel every fifteen or twenty feet, were sprouting from the top of the palace walls. As Dohma watched, lightning began to dance on the surface of the b.a.l.l.s.

"What is that?!" someone asked.

"That is to make sure none of you get away," came an ominous, deep-throated growl from Duke. "You dare to brag about destroying the Duianna line and their loyal regents?"

The Princes turned, white-faced, and looked at Duke. "Guards, kill him!" they bellowed in unison.

A few n.o.bles chose this moment to run out of the room. Duke pushed hard to one side, dragging the guards holding the opposite side of the nets towards him. Biting down on the net holding it and pus.h.i.+ng hard with his legs, he used the slack he had made to create enough momentum to flip over onto the guards on the opposite side, crus.h.i.+ng them with his weight. The guards who had been dragged with the net were catapulted, landing hard on the stone floor. Duke finished rolling, still holding the net with his teeth as he stood free; then Duke spun around, whipping the nets, sending the screaming guards who tried to hold on to it flying. Expertly, he spun around again, throwing the net over the guards who had been standing behind him.

The personal guards drew their weapons and jumped at him. He moved faster than Dohma thought possible for something his size. He attacked with teeth and paws, kicking two guards so hard they flew backwards a couple of feet, before landing on their backs with a sickening crack as their heads. .h.i.t the floor. The princes bolted for a doorway, as did every other remaining lord and dignitary in the room. Duke grabbed another guard by the leg and used him as a club, beating away five other guards, and then threw the limp and broken body at some approaching guards, knocking them down as well.

Dohma smoothly drew his sword and ran it through the back of a personal guard. Pulling it, he spun, slas.h.i.+ng the sword through the neck of another. The personal guards' attention was on Duke, letting Dohma kill five more before they noticed he wasn't on their side.

One guard managed to get in a good hit with his sword. Duke spun on him and took his sword arm at the elbow in his teeth. Dohma heard the crunch as Duke's teeth went through the steel armor and bone, neatly amputating the arm. Duke spit out the arm, still holding the sword, and turned to the doorway, where the detachment of palace guards where just starting to rush in, weapons at the ready.

Dohma cried, "Palace Guardsmen, the princes are usurpers and traitors! The Royal Personal Guard are all knowing accomplices." The remaining personal guard looked at Dohma in shock for a moment, just enough time for Duke to kill three more; knocking one down and standing on his throat while simultaneously picking another up, biting his midsection so the metal armor made a creaking sound and pinched off his screams; Duke used the body like a sledgehammer on the third. Dohma's guardsmen's shock wore off and they joined the fight. The few remaining personal guard were quickly dispatched.

Dohma walked around the room, killing any wounded, or pretending to be wounded, personal guards. He was pleased to see his own guards stab the dead bodies again just for good measure.

Duke watched him in surprise for a moment and then said something else which Dohma felt deep down he should understand but didn't. When Dohma finished his work he stood in front of Duke and looked him in the eye. "Excellency, we," he indicated the guardsmen, "serve the Kingdom of Aelargo. We all swore an oath to uphold and protect this kingdom and its covenant. With the public confession of the usurpers, I name them, and all their family and followers, traitors. I, and all the royal guard, stand at your command as a true Lord of Aelargo."

Duke looked at him and then the guards. "Very good, Captain. You will detain every lord, lady and dignitary, informing them that I will be validating their status with the archives and all pretenders who confess before we discover them will be dealt with mercifully. As of this minute no one, save me, is to be obeyed until I order otherwise."

Duke looked around the room and smiled, although with the blood and gore splattered over his body the effect was not as pleasant as he likely intended. "Nice fight, boys. You aren't so bad. Now clean up this mess and start gathering everyone up." A thunder clap was heard in the distance, and Duke turned to look in that direction, his ears, eyes, and nose pointing like a hunting hound. It was almost as if Duke could see through the distance to the source of the sound. After a moment Duke looked back at Dohma. "I am sealing the city. Once the palace grounds have been searched and all supposed dignitaries are accounted for, I will open the palace gates and you can do the same for the entire city."

Sniffing the air, Duke shook his head. "d.a.m.n it, this is annoying. Echo Commander."

A Dagger casually stepped out from behind a pillar. "Sir."

Dohma and the other guardsmen stared at her like she was a ghost. How did she get here?

"Signal someone to find out what is going on at the west gate. Echo Squad, provide audible tracking queues, maintain noncombat distance, these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are mine. I want Emman first."

The Dagger said, "Yes, sir," and made a series of bird calls which were answered by another call outside the doorway.

Duke's ears swiveled towards the sound. "Stay out of my way I'll deal with those little b.a.s.t.a.r.ds myself," he said, and then he leapt at the doorway, followed closely by the Dagger.

Everything was as tidy as she could make it, but Ticca went over the mental checklist a couple more times just to be sure. Lebuin and Ditani were fairly well disguised as Nigan and Risy, and both had allowed her to shave their heads to enable gluing the wigs in place with the gum. Lebuin didn't have the ma.s.s to properly replace Nigan, but with the padded armor under-layer he would pa.s.s very well from a distance. Of course, no one in the main room would be fooled for long.

Nigan and Risy had also transformed reasonably well and given that they were going to remain in the room and only go out to the dock very early in the morning. They should have no issue making a convincing Lebuin and Ditani.

It took a mark of practice before Ditani managed to imitate Risy's walk. Lebuin was a quick study and mastered the basic movements for Nigan in only a few minutes, surprising everyone, including himself. So the only issue was direct inspection at fewer than twenty feet. I wish I could come up with a way out of here that didn't involve walking through the main room, but anything we do would raise suspicions and possibly an alarm. Well, 'preparation with boldness overcomes many obstacles' as my trainer used to say to me. This is going to really test that idiom. At least I got a solid night's rest without any dreams... I still feel marvelous with the dreams, but they are rather spooky in their detail and my ability to remember them so clearly.

Footsteps in the hall, which sounded about right, and a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Who is it?"

Ditani answered softly, doing a fair imitation of Risy's voice. "Ticca, it's me."

When she opened the door Ditani stepped in carrying two packs, then she closed the door and they all gathered around the table. "This pack is mine and still has just the clothes and other items I remembered. This one," he shoved the second leather pack towards her, "was Magus Vestul's, which I have never opened myself until just a few moments ago. You might want to look in."

She took the pack, noting that it was as well-made as the boots and pouch. The pack was closed with a metal clasp that had a nice black patina built up on it. It also had a geometric pattern engraved on it that looked a lot like the one on her pouch, but this clasp was not designed to rotate. Pulling it over, she noticed that although it puffed out like it was full, it was much lighter than an empty leather pack. Opening it, she looked inside and was taken aback by the view. The view was as if she was looking down and through an odd lens into a very large room stacked with boxes, trunks, shelves visible all at once. The sight made Ticca feel a little dizzy so she sat down. Lebuin, on the other hand, put his head down close so that his nose was almost inside of the pack.

His eyes darted around and around. "Now this is interesting." Before she could stop him he reached inside. She squeaked a warning, which he just ignored. As he reached inside, she saw the pack slightly deform, where his hand would be as if he was pulling something out of a normal pack. Lebuin pulled his hand out, holding a very large book that should have taken up the entire pack by itself. He grunted under the weight. "This is a little heavier than I thought." He put the book down on the table with a loud thud; next, he reached in and pulled out a fis.h.i.+ng pole (it kept coming out of the pack, like a silly magic trick performed by entertainers in the market). He then put both items back into the pack. "I would say this would be most helpful for any traveling Magus. You could carry almost an entire small house of things in this." Looking in again, he frowned. "I don't see anything that looks like a magical artifact or incantation book; of course, I wouldn't have suspected the boots, or this pack, of being magical. Still, it might be a limitation we should observe until we are more familiar with how this works."

Lebuin blushed slightly and shook his head at himself then looked at Ditani. "I'm sorry, this is really yours now, I shouldn't have spoken as if was mine."

That is interesting; he is trying to follow the Dagger code as well as imitate a Dagger. He might not be as self-centered as I first thought.

Ditani shook his head. "Ma... Lebuin, that is an item for a Magus, I should not desire to carry it. It is yours, I am sure Magus Vestul would have desired it to be thus. He was a kind and good man. I know he always had wanted to have a family but, although he married a few times, he never had any children. Consider this a gift from a father to his son, to continue his work." Lebuin looked shocked and overwhelmed with emotion. He simply nodded and Ditani placed his hand on Lebuin's shoulder knowingly.

Ticca stood and forced herself to look into it again. As she moved her head closer, things she looked at directly came into focus. Putting her nose as close as Lebuin had, she could see every item in perfect detail. Well that is how he was able to inspect the books so fast.

"There is too much in here to inspect it all now. I believe we are all ready and it is a full mark past noon. We should get going so we can be beyond the farming communities by dark."

Lebuin was quickly putting some of his things into the new pack. "I have only ridden enough to be familiar with it. I really hope Risy's horse is as intelligent and cooperative as he said."

"Just try to look authoritative while you ride. Now remember, you two are following my command. That means you address me as 'sir', and you stay a step behind unless I direct otherwise by signal or orders. You pay attention to what is around; you nod to any Dagger who nods at you. We walk down, out and around, mount, and then ride for the western gate. Lebuin, you give two pence and Ditani you give a bell in tip to the stable lads. Any last questions?"

Ditani and Lebuin both shook their heads, slipping their packs over their shoulders as Risy and Nigan had demonstrated. "No, sir." Lebuin said.

Ticca smiled. "Not bad, I might make a Dagger out of you yet." Grabbing her pack, she gave them a final check and then opened the door. She stepped out and made sure they closed the door solidly. Taking a deep breath, she thought, Lady, don't be offended but I desire very much to not meet you today.

She a.s.sumed her command bearing, walking down the hall and straight down the stairs. Without looking behind she knew Lebuin and Ditani were following by the sounds of their footsteps.

In the main room she noticed the conspicuously empty Dagger tables. A few merchants looked at her and her escorts expectantly, but from her projected att.i.tude of 'on a mission' they slouched in disappointment. Wonder if they were looking for me specifically, or just any Dagger.

As she pa.s.sed the bar, Genne looked up at them and said, "Good luck, stay sharp."

Smiling back at him, she replied, "And you too. We'll be back, so don't rent my room out."

Smiling wide, he waved his hand in the air. "Nev'r crossed me mind."

The new doors looked a little out of place, and the repair work to the wall was bright white, compared with the yellowed wall it patched. Duke sure leaves his mark. The new doors looked a bit heavier, and when she pushed through she was sure of it. Trying to prevent it from happening again, I bet.

Outside, no one was near, and it was an easy thing to turn left and then to walk around the inn via the alleyway to the stables behind. Their horses were standing there, ready. Ticca went straight to hers, attached her pack to the saddle, and then checked the horse and tack over. Everything was in excellent condition. As she mounted her horse she checked to see that Lebuin and Ditani had managed to pick the right horses and were already mounted. Good boys. We are almost clear. Now to get a few blocks from here and we will be clear of any prepared attacks.

Riding out of the alley, she turned right, heading southeast. Just have to make it past the market and then take the main trade road straight out of the gates. She concentrated all her senses on looking for the attack. They pa.s.sed by the Dolphin and she spotted movement at the roofline. Using her peripheral vision she saw it was a Dagger she knew. What are you doing there? Must be working for Duke; but why watch the Dolphin unless Duke is somehow interested in whomever is after Lebuin? Let's see if he'll help. She made a great show of exaggerated movements to adjust the reigns a little tighter, signaling with her hands as she moved them for a.s.sistance.

She didn't look up at the Dagger but he made a motion ahead of her and then vanished. Oh, so you thought you were out of sight. Paying attention to where he had indicated, she spotted a merchant who was adjusting his outer split s.h.i.+rt as if to correct its position; for just a moment there was a break in the s.h.i.+rt, revealing directly in her direction only the dagger under the outer robe. After fixing his s.h.i.+rt, the merchant started to signal something that started with the number four, but changed the message to a warning at her eight-thirty. d.a.m.n it! Time to run.

She glanced to her left rear to see a slim man in dark green tights, wearing a belt with at least three fighting-length knives and a sword on it, come running out of the house across the street from the Dolphin. He was looking directly at her. Behind him were two others dressed as valets, in blue b.u.t.ton vests, two fighting-length knives and swords on their belts as well. The man in green said something and pointed right at where the western gate would be. He then pulled a knife from the back of his belt.

d.a.m.n it, they saw through the disguises! That looks like a throwing knife. Lebuin's too exposed! Her warhorse jumped instantly to her directions, spinning and lunging between Lebuin and the men. Ticca drew as she controlled the horse with her knees; she leaned out and slapped Lebuin's horse hard with her hand. "Ride!" Lebuin's mount jumped at the abuse and flew into a gallop. Lebuin, caught by surprise, was bounced around, his hands splaying as he grabbing desperately for the saddle horn, almost falling off. He managed to grab the saddle horn, hold onto the reins, and somehow managed to stay up for the moment. Using the momentum from slapping Lebuin's horse, Ticca ducked to the left as a knife pa.s.sed over her, and would have hit Lebuin if not for his sudden motion.

She righted herself and held on with her legs, letting go of the reins to draw another blade. Guiding the horse with her legs they spun around again, and the horse leapt after Lebuin and Ditani as they raced away. A Dagger disguised as a workman on her left pulled a pair of daggers and ran to intercept the three attackers. Looking back, she saw that the three men were fighting with six Daggers dressed as workmen, sailors, beggars, and peasants. Before she lost sight of the fight two of the disguised Daggers had fallen, heavily wounded, and none of the three men who had come out to attack Lebuin were wounded. What was a full fire team doing in disguise watching the Dolphin? And Lady, not that I am not thankful, but why the h.e.l.l did they break cover to help me? Her mind pulled her Uncle's favorite saying out to answer that: 'Mess with one Dagger, you mess with them all.'

Unfortunately the roads in the city were not straight, nor were they empty. They rode as fast as they could while dodging carts and people. They had just made it to the gate when the Knife in green came running out of narrow alley just ahead of Ditani. d.a.m.n it, who the h.e.l.l is he and how did he get here so fast? He was splattered with blood and had two fighting blades out.

"DITANI, LOOK OUT ON YOUR TWO!" Ditani's head thankfully snapped to the right location. Thank you, Lady, he knew what that meant!

The Knife sliced with his two blades at Ditani, who successfully dodged away only to lose his balance and fall half-off of his horse. The Knife turned toward Ticca as she turned her horse to ride him down. The war horse didn't hesitate and leapt at the Knife.

For a moment Ticca and the Knife's eyes connected and she read his immense anger towards her in that look. He wasn't afraid, and certainly didn't look at all like someone about to be trampled by a highly-trained war horse. He didn't try to dodge, but instead spun in place, sheathing his knives and twisting with a speed Ticca admired as she was carried directly over him. He managed to twist, step, and s.h.i.+ft just enough that her horse made no contact with him as it pa.s.sed over. Anyone else would have been crushed under the mighty weight and steel-shod hooves. This guy is too much; he can't be a normal Knife. Why do I have to deal with three exceptional Knives in two days? If this keeps up I am going to demand more coin from Lebuin!